A review of my book, Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte, was published recently by Ateneo de Manila University’s Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture. The review was written by Symel Noelin De Guzman-Daulat of UP Diliman. This assessment, I believe, is objective and captures in essence what the book is about. Part of the review is re-printed below:
“Even at its twilight, the Duterte regime continued to espouse debates from various positions within the political spectrum. Indeed, the Philippines has never known a president as atypical as Duterte, and attempts to analyze him and his governance have produced a slew of literature from different vantages.
Prevalent among scholars is the adoption of a leftist-leaning critique of the administration, primarily due to its unapologetic ratification of violence against drug pushers and users who subsequently have been portrayed as the cause of society’s major ills. As most academic opinions on Duterte appear to skew toward the unfavorable, a well-researched and well-written defense of the former president and the circumstances which propelled his rise and subsequent hold to power offers a fresh perspective often absent in the scholarly realm.
“Christopher Ryan Maboloc’s Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte is an impassioned analysis that depicts the gradual political ascent of Duterte from the perspective of a fellow Mindanawon. A similar opinion piece from the same author, titled “Radical Democracy in the Time of Duterte,” was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in December 16, 2016, and one can surmise that suchopinion is in need of further elaboration, which could have been the very motivator of this work. This perspective is in itself a novel disconnect from the capital-centric narrative echoed among scholars. Comprising ten chapters, the book outlines the historical, political, philosophical, ethical, and religious dimensions which connived and clashed to bring about the leader that is Duterte.
These thematic chapters together form a dynamic discourse which attempts to shed light on his seemingly troublesome approaches. Through the lens of radical democracy, a resonant thread that can be seen within the book is the act of resistance. It is resistance that fuels the anti-elitist narrative as well as the shift of power balance. Any form of atypical behavior is attributed to the act of resistance. In its core, resistance explains, if not justifies, any form of volatility arising from a discordant position.
Maboloc succeeds in presenting a historical exploration on the root of sociopolitical and cultural divide between the Mindanawons and the rest of the Philippines. Suffering from centuries of institutional neglect and oppression, the people of Mindanao sought to fight back against a system which relegated their struggle as unsightly and barbaric. The result of this revolt, Duterte—a seemingly simple everyman—dignified an anti-elite conduct which celebrates his vulgarity and pokes fun at formalities. He promised to dismantle oligarchies and heeded the Bangsamoros’ demand to have authority over their jurisdiction.
For the Mindanawons, his ascent to the highest position in the land is a collective victory—ato ni bay (“this is ours”)— as his mayoral slogan persisted in ideology, and they perceived the rise of their kinsman as a long overdue vindication, in which finally, the people take the helms of their government. A Mindanawon analyzing another Mindanawon could perhaps provide us the proper context in legitimizing some cultural and linguistic barriers often alluded to by those outside as disgraceful.
“Fascinatingly gripping, Maboloc’s book relates a speculative account of how Duterte’s deliberation led him to adopt otherwise deviant stands on issues concerning the country, and in turn demands from its readers a due re-examination of our existing prejudices. It begs us to reframe the narrative and reconsider, given the circumstances, what we would have done when vested with the same power and position. Suffice it to say that we acknowledge Duterte’s merit to lie not on the results of his actions but through the embodiment of his dissent. By depicting himself as committed to dismantling a politics devoid of people, Duterte was able to emerge as a figure of resistance and plurality in the political field…
“The readers are implored to suspend their prejudices before tackling this book head on for them to see its full merit. As it is, it depicts an enlightening exposition on why even in the end, Duterte still retains the support of the masses. He portrayed the everyman’s strongman, he carried their dreams of seizing power and fighting back against the despot whose dominance was built and stolen upon their blood, sweat, and tears.”
